Manchester United's selection policy will be tested with selections vs Porto

After three games without a win and two successive 3-0 home hammerings in the Premier League, Manchester United head to Portugal for their second Europa League game against Porto tonight.

United's drab draw with Twente was a mood-shift that worsened with their 3-0 loss to Tottenham four days later. United have won three of their nine fixtures this season and those victories - a late winner against Fulham, seeing off the league's most ill-equipped team and a League One outfit - have garnered retrospective scrutiny.

Porto have not hosted United since Cristiano Ronaldo lashed in one of the club's greatest European goals in 2009. That sent United through to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

READ MORE: Recruitment staff fear making mistakes under new United hierarchy

READ MORE: United sticking with Ten Hag for now

Here are five things to look out for in the Europa League tonight:

How will Fernandes react?

The decision to appeal Bruno Fernandes's red card against Spurs was vindicated as his three-match ban was overturned. Yet it was also inadvisable on the basis of form and fatigue. Fernandes has been playing like a drain but he has been over-taxed by Erik ten Hag.

He seems a certain starter in his homeland tonight. The best and worst of Cristiano Ronaldo for United came at Portuguese grounds of Sporting Lisbon's rivals. He was hollow in the group stage defeat at Benfica in 2005 yet decisive at Porto in 2009.

Fernandes, a fellow Sporting alumni, may rise to the occasion amid the inevitable catcalls.

Same midfield?

Kobbie Mainoo had avoided injury since he came into the United team in November but his subdued start to the campaign and weariness suggested an injury was around the corner. He came off before half-time against Tottenham but trained on Wednesday.

Mason Mount, as snappable as balsa wood, was not and this bank of matches has been another missed opportunity for the £60million dud. There would have been an argument to give Mainoo a breather, put Fernandes in midfield and start Mount. Mainoo could still start on the bench, given how Ten Hag has rotated during midweek matches.

What changes?

If Ten Hag is consistent, he will drop Matthijs de Ligt. Harry Maguire came out of the side after an error at Brighton and De Ligt's performance at the weekend was error-strewn. Lisandro Martinez has also been out of form and Maguire has recovered from a knock that caused him to miss the Spurs match. Selecting the same centre backs would seem remiss.

Manuel Ugarte has had a poor start to his United career but is still finding his feet and, as another former Sporting player, has experience of duels with Porto. Rasmus Hojlund has trained for two weeks and Joshua Zirkzee has been playing his way out of the team with his impotence in front of goal.

The Rashford issue

Plenty of United fans would approve if Ten Hag recalled Amad and dropped Marcus Rashford. Six hours before kick-off, Rashford will know if he is back in the England squad. The chances are he won't be.

Would Ten Hag want to compound that by taking Rashford out of the team? Moreover, does he want the hassle of ill-informed pundits questioning it again? The fact is Ten Hag won't care and he will pick the team on merit.

Buying time?

The biggest problem for Ten Hag around the Twente match was Christian Eriksen's post-match interview. That set a portentous tone heading into the Spurs game and United were worse.

The dire Europa League format has revoked any jeopardy from the pre-Christmas games and tonight's match is only significant due to United's domestic form. United could win as handsomely against Porto as they did on that electric night at Old Trafford in 1997 and the perception of Ten Hag would barely alter.

Porto's European pedigree this decade - two round-of-16 appearances and progression to the quarter-finals of the Champions League - comfortably trumps United's.